I’m going to ask you a series of questions. There are only three answer choices for each question: yes, no, or maybe. Since you’re answering only to yourself, there’s no need to worry about defending your answers.

Recently, a U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Scott County courtroom. I assume that as part of his plea agreement, the defendant admitted certain facts and that those facts constituted a sufficient basis for finding the defendant guilty of second-degree murder without intent.

I hope this message finds you well, even amid these challenging circumstances. My office at the State Capitol remains open and we remain at work on solutions that bring relief to the many Minnesotans that are suffering. I want to share with you an update on where a few key issues stand.

National Day of Prayer is celebrated annually throughout the United States on the first Thursday of May. Since 1952, each president has signed a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray. As an act of Congress, National Day of Prayer is intended for all people of faith to pray to the Go…

I am writing to thank everyone who has worked to respond to COVID-19 and prevent its spread in the community. Avoiding exposure to this virus is especially important for people whose immune systems have been compromised.

I am so grateful to all the Minnesotans that are taking this pandemic seriously and doing such a good job of flattening the curve. Though it may not seem like it you are saving lives, it is first and foremost what we need to be doing right now.

We are in a public health crisis, and many are making sacrifices that most of us cannot even imagine, especially our front-line health care workers and emergency responders. We are all doing our part in Minnesota to save as many of our neighbors as possible.

April is national Volunteer Appreciation Month and I want to thank all the volunteers out there that make our communities stronger, safer and healthier for everyone. Especially during the COVID-19 epidemic, volunteers are needed more than ever at nonprofits and we applaud all of you that are…

What happens when we design a god in our own image? Our western cultural god seems a bit like Santa — pretty benign, yet can conveniently be used to scare children into good behavior. They still haven’t figured out that everyone ends up getting presents; just like everyone ends up going to h…

We wanted to thank the Chaska SnoHawks and our friends and family for making our daughter Madelyn's benefit on March 7 a huge success. We also want to thank all of the individuals and businesses in the surrounding communities that donated. It was an incredible evening and we were blown away …

When I was a kid, I wore basketball shorts every day and rarely combed my hair. When I did, it was pulled straight back into a ponytail and contained by a thick headband. And I wore the same fire-red T-shirt that said MadDog on the back. Because of that shirt, a kid with strawberry blonde ha…

Coronavirus is expanding quickly and we now have a national emergency. This is serious because of its evolving and dynamic nature. With the enormous scope of the problem, a lot of questions and not much answer, it is easy to get confused, demoralized, frozen with fear and transfixed into inaction.

"These are unprecedented times." "We must flatten the curve." "Protect the community by staying in." These soundbites are just a snippet of the echochamber we hear over and over again. And none of them sound appealing. Frankly, in some ways, there is little appealing about what we face over …

As a physician, public health expert with a master's in public health and the daughter of a polio survivor, I was dismayed to read in the Feb. 29 Prior Lake American that my state senator, Eric Pratt, told GOP caucus-goers he "stands with moms" when it comes to "vaccination decisions."

Today, our news is filled with reports of new cases of coronavirus in our state, across the country and across the world. Our natural response is concern, and rightly so. But preparation and working together is key to getting through this public health issue.

At this time of year there are so many signs of spring. Even though the calendar says it’s still winter, and many parts of the country are still covered with a thick blanket of snow, there are signs of spring all over the place.

On Nov. 5, 1965, the group known as the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology cautioned President Lyndon B. Johnson that continued accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil-fuel burning would “almost certainly cause significant changes” that could har…

With 2019 behind us, I wanted to reach out to help inform the Jordan community what the city has recently been up to and highlight an opportunity for you to help guide Jordan’s future. In March, the City of Jordan will be distributing its annual community survey. Your input is more valuable …

Apparently twelve or so years of following the Jordan City Council's doings (including four years as an elected council member) doesn't qualify me as informed. I get essentially the same information pack as a council member. I attend the meetings to get the tenor of councilors' interactions …

In the Jan. 23 edition of the Jordan Independent, the paper published an uninformed editorial by local resident Thom Boncher. As a Jordan City Council member, I felt a duty to set the record straight on the function and purpose for the SW Interceptor, which is nearing completion after five y…

The recent guest column by Isaac Orr seemed a little odd to me. So I did a little digging into his background and his employer, Center of The American Experiment. They present themselves as a think tank but it sure looks more like they are just paid lobbyists for conservative causes. Essenti…

In the Dec. 19 Prior Lake American, State Rep. Tony Albright was quoted as saying that government price controls on pharmaceutical drugs could lead to controlling doctors’ fees by a “bureaucratic force.” He suggests that innovation and market forces are the better way to let drug prices be d…

On behalf of the Jordan Lions and Jordan Fire Department, I am proud to announce the success of this year’s Christmas Food Basket program. This year the program served 173 families with a wonderful Christmas basket with a turkey and ham and your traditional family meal fixings.

It has been said the impeachment proceedings are a waste of taxpayer money. What’s truly a waste of our money is all of the millions and millions of dollars spent on travel and security detail while this president plays golf. At his own properties. These impeachment proceedings are unfortuna…

I just returned from a vacation and was a little surprised and dismayed by some of the comments in the paper from the school district regarding the recent failed school referendum. The comment “it’s still difficult for the district to request additional funding due to 'high taxes' in Scott C…

The Alzheimer’s Association 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report illustrates that the burden of Alzheimer’s in our country and in Scott County is continuing to grow. As the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s continues to increase, we need to make sure people who are i…

The Jordaness Lions want to thank all who attended and contributed to the Veterans Day program on the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 11. It was our privilege to sponsor this program and along with the Jordan schools and Jordan community, to honor the brave men and women who unselfishly served ou…

This letter marks the 60th anniversary of my joining 4-H. I am still a registered member of 4-H. I work with Future Farmers of America members when I can. I believe in young people and organizations that involve young people. But today I feel like a casualty in the culture wars. These organi…

Two weeks ago the Jordan City Council, acting on advice of the city’s planning commission passed an amended conditional use permit for a local business. The amendment allows resomation — an environmentally friendly body disposal process using pressurized, heated water and lye to reduce a bod…